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Sentinel Wars #3
Running Scared
They are the Sentinels. Three races descended from ancient guardians of mankind, each possessing unique abilities in their battle to protect humanity against their eternal foes: the Synestryn. Now one Sentinel's survival determines the fate of them all.
Lexi Johns has one purpose: to free her best friend from the hands of the Sentinels. And Zach, the Sentinel she has been running from for months, has one goal: to convince her that their destinies are entwined. For the magic that Zach has absorbed could destroy him if he doesn't find the woman who can channel it for him. And he knows Lexi is the one.
From an early age, Lexi has been taught to fear the Sentinels. And now she is an agent of a group out to destroy them. So when Zach finds her, it is Lexi's chance to strike at the heart of the Sentinels. But, as Lexi sees Zach's courage, selflessness, and honor, she begins to doubt her beliefs � and is faced with an unbearable choice.
Lexi Johns has one purpose: to free her best friend from the hands of the Sentinels. And Zach, the Sentinel she has been running from for months, has one goal: to convince her that their destinies are entwined. For the magic that Zach has absorbed could destroy him if he doesn't find the woman who can channel it for him. And he knows Lexi is the one.
From an early age, Lexi has been taught to fear the Sentinels. And now she is an agent of a group out to destroy them. So when Zach finds her, it is Lexi's chance to strike at the heart of the Sentinels. But, as Lexi sees Zach's courage, selflessness, and honor, she begins to doubt her beliefs � and is faced with an unbearable choice.
373 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
56 people are currently reading
1349 people want to read
About the author
Shannon K. Butcher
36Ìýbooks1,210ÌýfollowersBestselling author Shannon K. Butcher, who now writes as Anna Argent, has written more than thirty titles since launching her career in 2007. She has three award-winning series, including the paranormal romance series The Sentinel Wars, the action-romance series The Edge, and the romantic suspense Delta Force Trilogy. Her alter ego Anna Argent also writes several series with a fresh and interesting spin on paranormal romance (The Lost Shards, The Taken and The Stone Men series) as well as a contemporary romance series set in a small town in the Ozarks. As a former engineer and current nerd, she frequently uses charts, graphs and tables to aid her in the mechanics of story design, world building and to keep track of all those colorful characters, magical powers and alternate worlds. An avid bead and glass artist, she spends her free time turning small sparkly bits into larger sparkly bits. She’s rarely on social media, so the best place to find out news about upcoming releases under either name is via her newsletter. You can sign up at AnnaArgent.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
June 26, 2012
I have gotten stingy with five star reviews. But I had to give this book one. It took me to this point where I couldn't stop reading this series if I wanted to.
There isn't one thing that made this a five star book. But a culmination of things.
Characterizations:
Zach--He is a real sweetie. A very worthy hero. His determination to do the right thing despite his own selfish needs. His complete commitment to following through. His tenderness and his fierce power together make him very drool-worthy. What a lovely combination. He is a hero after my own heart.
Lexi--Some aspects of her personality weren't my favorite. She's not trusting and she's hard about some things. Yet, her personality completely makes sense for someone who has led her life. I might be projecting a little. I know I am horrible at trusting people. When you have been let down, it's hard to open yourself up. And with a mother who always drummed into her head to run, to doubt, to reject, to project oneself from the ugliness and the evil in the world, it wouldn't make sense for her to be any other way. I can't expect anything less of her. What really shone through was that Lexi fought past this programming to do the right thing, to trust, to believe, and to sacrifice herself. I was so glad she came clean and she came clean when she needed to. That took some real integrity. I respect this girl. I really do.
Shannon K. Butcher has given us complex characters with so many angles to them. They feel realistic to me, their emotions. They aren't always pretty and pleasing to experience. But because I see the good and bad, that makes them come off the page to me. When a read a book, that's what I want. I don't want to be 'meh' or disconnected. I want to be engaged. Ms. Butcher has done a great job with this book.
The secondary characters in this series do so much to empower and endear this series to me. I am very intrigued by each and every one of them. I feel their pains and experience their suffering. I want to see their individual stories work out to their happiness and contentment. And there are several that I could name that I am eager to read more about, and none that I feel blah about. That's saying something.
Storyline:
The dire situation of the Sentinels is palpable in reading this book. It makes me want to keep reading to see the situation turn around. I love this concept of these men who are dying for women. Their whole civilization dependent upon it. Not that I derive a sadistic pleasure from the men suffering, but the idea of them needing a helpmate to channel their energy, to fight at their side, to heal and to keep them whole is what appeals to me. It takes the paranormal romance genre in a different direction. I know Christine Feehan's Carpathians have the idea of a male who needs his lifemate to keep him sane and whole, and I like it there. This is slightly different, and in an equally appealing manner, with its own distinct and organic feel. This series has a science fiction feel that I have to say works for me. I am curious about so much, and looking forward to seeing where Ms. Butcher takes things next.
Final Thoughts: I wasn't blown away with the first book, but I really liked the second book. It's safe to say I loved this book. This series is on fire for me now. I'm glad my sister gave me the push to read this one. She was right!
There isn't one thing that made this a five star book. But a culmination of things.
Characterizations:
Zach--He is a real sweetie. A very worthy hero. His determination to do the right thing despite his own selfish needs. His complete commitment to following through. His tenderness and his fierce power together make him very drool-worthy. What a lovely combination. He is a hero after my own heart.
Lexi--Some aspects of her personality weren't my favorite. She's not trusting and she's hard about some things. Yet, her personality completely makes sense for someone who has led her life. I might be projecting a little. I know I am horrible at trusting people. When you have been let down, it's hard to open yourself up. And with a mother who always drummed into her head to run, to doubt, to reject, to project oneself from the ugliness and the evil in the world, it wouldn't make sense for her to be any other way. I can't expect anything less of her. What really shone through was that Lexi fought past this programming to do the right thing, to trust, to believe, and to sacrifice herself. I was so glad she came clean and she came clean when she needed to. That took some real integrity. I respect this girl. I really do.
Shannon K. Butcher has given us complex characters with so many angles to them. They feel realistic to me, their emotions. They aren't always pretty and pleasing to experience. But because I see the good and bad, that makes them come off the page to me. When a read a book, that's what I want. I don't want to be 'meh' or disconnected. I want to be engaged. Ms. Butcher has done a great job with this book.
The secondary characters in this series do so much to empower and endear this series to me. I am very intrigued by each and every one of them. I feel their pains and experience their suffering. I want to see their individual stories work out to their happiness and contentment. And there are several that I could name that I am eager to read more about, and none that I feel blah about. That's saying something.
Storyline:
The dire situation of the Sentinels is palpable in reading this book. It makes me want to keep reading to see the situation turn around. I love this concept of these men who are dying for women. Their whole civilization dependent upon it. Not that I derive a sadistic pleasure from the men suffering, but the idea of them needing a helpmate to channel their energy, to fight at their side, to heal and to keep them whole is what appeals to me. It takes the paranormal romance genre in a different direction. I know Christine Feehan's Carpathians have the idea of a male who needs his lifemate to keep him sane and whole, and I like it there. This is slightly different, and in an equally appealing manner, with its own distinct and organic feel. This series has a science fiction feel that I have to say works for me. I am curious about so much, and looking forward to seeing where Ms. Butcher takes things next.
Final Thoughts: I wasn't blown away with the first book, but I really liked the second book. It's safe to say I loved this book. This series is on fire for me now. I'm glad my sister gave me the push to read this one. She was right!
March 5, 2013
This is a fun series. It has interesting world building that I have not read the likes of before. And it has characters that are very relatable. The main storyline is the romance of the couple in each book, but the fantasy elements play an important role. This book expanded the world of the Sentinels considerably and I am excited to move on to the next book.
I did skim some parts and I thought there were too many points of view. But this is still a decent paranormal romance read. I enjoy picking up books in this series and I look forward to the next one.
I did skim some parts and I thought there were too many points of view. But this is still a decent paranormal romance read. I enjoy picking up books in this series and I look forward to the next one.
December 23, 2012
Nothing unexpected, just what I thought I would get from a Sentinel Wars novel, Shannon K Butcher is consistent.
Description:
hey are the Sentinels. Three races descended from ancient guardians of mankind, each possessing unique abilities in their battle to protect humanity against their eternal foes: the Synestryn. Now one Sentinel's survival determines the fate of them all.
Lexi Johns has one purpose: to free her best friend from the hands of the Sentinels. And Zach, the Sentinel she has been running from for months, has one goal: to convince her that their destinies are entwined. For the magic that Zach has absorbed could destroy him if he doesn't find the woman who can channel it for him. And he knows Lexi is the one.
From an early age, Lexi has been taught to fear the Sentinels. And now she is an agent of a group out to destroy them. So when Zach finds her, it is Lexi's chance to strike at the heart of the Sentinels. But, as Lexi sees Zach's courage, selflessness, and honor, she begins to doubt her beliefs � and is faced with an unbearable choice.
My Thoughts:
I admit to having a bit of a hard time reading this book, I think I was expecting so much more. I loved Zach's character from the moment I met him in book one and I thought Lexie was going to be a cool heroine. I have to be honest, I was kinda disappointed in both. Lexie because she didn't question she just gave in to what others told her, I thought she would have more strength of character and have a mind of her own. Once she confessed her misdeeds I expected her to exude a new found strength and she did in some ways but that power just didn't come through ..didn't make me feel her. Zach I expected to be this tough bad boy, rule defying, devil may care guy. He was "whipped" from the beginning..he needed to make her want him by playing a bit more hard to get. It seemed that he became a bit of a lap dog rather than the doberman I expected him to be. Over all the book was ok, I just expected *more* If you are following the series it is a must read because of the movement in the plot needs to be read. However, if you were expecting the Lexie and Zach of the first book..I think you too will be disappointed.
3 star read for me...and I will move on to read book 4 with the rest of Gotta Have Romance with a Kick group and their series read.
Description:
hey are the Sentinels. Three races descended from ancient guardians of mankind, each possessing unique abilities in their battle to protect humanity against their eternal foes: the Synestryn. Now one Sentinel's survival determines the fate of them all.
Lexi Johns has one purpose: to free her best friend from the hands of the Sentinels. And Zach, the Sentinel she has been running from for months, has one goal: to convince her that their destinies are entwined. For the magic that Zach has absorbed could destroy him if he doesn't find the woman who can channel it for him. And he knows Lexi is the one.
From an early age, Lexi has been taught to fear the Sentinels. And now she is an agent of a group out to destroy them. So when Zach finds her, it is Lexi's chance to strike at the heart of the Sentinels. But, as Lexi sees Zach's courage, selflessness, and honor, she begins to doubt her beliefs � and is faced with an unbearable choice.
My Thoughts:
I admit to having a bit of a hard time reading this book, I think I was expecting so much more. I loved Zach's character from the moment I met him in book one and I thought Lexie was going to be a cool heroine. I have to be honest, I was kinda disappointed in both. Lexie because she didn't question she just gave in to what others told her, I thought she would have more strength of character and have a mind of her own. Once she confessed her misdeeds I expected her to exude a new found strength and she did in some ways but that power just didn't come through ..didn't make me feel her. Zach I expected to be this tough bad boy, rule defying, devil may care guy. He was "whipped" from the beginning..he needed to make her want him by playing a bit more hard to get. It seemed that he became a bit of a lap dog rather than the doberman I expected him to be. Over all the book was ok, I just expected *more* If you are following the series it is a must read because of the movement in the plot needs to be read. However, if you were expecting the Lexie and Zach of the first book..I think you too will be disappointed.
3 star read for me...and I will move on to read book 4 with the rest of Gotta Have Romance with a Kick group and their series read.
June 25, 2023
Running Scared
4 Stars
Lexi Johns has been raised to believe that the Sentinel Warriors are a dangerous threat and will do anything to rescue her best friend from them. Zach is a Sentinel with only one goal: to convince Lexi that her destiny is intertwined with his and that she is the only one with the ability to channel the power that can destroy him.
Intricate and detailed world-building combined with an intense plot that contains one or two shocking revelations and some spine-tingling moments. One of the best aspects of this series is that the female characters play an important role in the battle against evil. They are not merely damsels in distress in need of rescue.
Zach and Lexi’s romance is fantastic and their relationship builds and grows on every page. Lexi’s intentions are pure but she is a little naïve regarding the consequences of her actions. Moreover, her trust issues make it difficult to let others in and she struggles not only with attraction to Zach but also with the growing awareness that her entire belief system has been based on lies. Zach is an admirable hero with infinite patience and acceptance of Lexi’s distrust.
The story is a complex amalgamation of several subplots, including Lexi’s strategy for rescuing Helen, the Sanguinars� secret plans to save their people, a spy within the Sentinel compound, and a race of princely beings who have been visiting Earth, not to mention the monstrous Synestryn who have their own agenda for the planet. Some of these are resolved in this book while others will have to wait for subsequent installments.
There are numerous secondary characters but all are well-developed and interesting. The most compelling are Madoc and Nika whose intense connection is just spellbinding and I can’t wait to read their book next.
The Sentinel Wars is an engrossing series. It is, however, necessary to read the books in order otherwise it is virtually impossible to understand what is going on in the overall story arc.
4 Stars
Lexi Johns has been raised to believe that the Sentinel Warriors are a dangerous threat and will do anything to rescue her best friend from them. Zach is a Sentinel with only one goal: to convince Lexi that her destiny is intertwined with his and that she is the only one with the ability to channel the power that can destroy him.
Intricate and detailed world-building combined with an intense plot that contains one or two shocking revelations and some spine-tingling moments. One of the best aspects of this series is that the female characters play an important role in the battle against evil. They are not merely damsels in distress in need of rescue.
Zach and Lexi’s romance is fantastic and their relationship builds and grows on every page. Lexi’s intentions are pure but she is a little naïve regarding the consequences of her actions. Moreover, her trust issues make it difficult to let others in and she struggles not only with attraction to Zach but also with the growing awareness that her entire belief system has been based on lies. Zach is an admirable hero with infinite patience and acceptance of Lexi’s distrust.
The story is a complex amalgamation of several subplots, including Lexi’s strategy for rescuing Helen, the Sanguinars� secret plans to save their people, a spy within the Sentinel compound, and a race of princely beings who have been visiting Earth, not to mention the monstrous Synestryn who have their own agenda for the planet. Some of these are resolved in this book while others will have to wait for subsequent installments.
There are numerous secondary characters but all are well-developed and interesting. The most compelling are Madoc and Nika whose intense connection is just spellbinding and I can’t wait to read their book next.
The Sentinel Wars is an engrossing series. It is, however, necessary to read the books in order otherwise it is virtually impossible to understand what is going on in the overall story arc.
March 14, 2015
3.29 stars.
While I still love this series, this book was the worst of the lot. The second book had a very strong self-contained plot while still moving the series arc forward. This book felt more like filler.
I never connected to either of the leads. I got frustrated with Lexi’s introspection. Zach had the right attributes but he came across a bit dull.
Some insight was given on the Sentinel’s infertility and the Sanguinar’s Project Lullaby. Logan is the hero of the fifth book so I am hoping his will deal with the project.
The last minute gentlemen brought more questions and plot holes than I think helped the story.
I am glad I can start Madoc and Nika’s book immediately because they stole my interest whenever they were on the page and I resented having to go back to the leads. I’m also eager for more on Torr and Grace.
Once again I don’t think new readers should start with any book other than the first. The author doesn’t spend a lot of time explaining stuff that regular readers know and instead builds on that knowledge.
Even though this book didn’t work for me and is the weakest, I still highly recommend this series.
While I still love this series, this book was the worst of the lot. The second book had a very strong self-contained plot while still moving the series arc forward. This book felt more like filler.
I never connected to either of the leads. I got frustrated with Lexi’s introspection. Zach had the right attributes but he came across a bit dull.
Some insight was given on the Sentinel’s infertility and the Sanguinar’s Project Lullaby. Logan is the hero of the fifth book so I am hoping his will deal with the project.
The last minute gentlemen brought more questions and plot holes than I think helped the story.
I am glad I can start Madoc and Nika’s book immediately because they stole my interest whenever they were on the page and I resented having to go back to the leads. I’m also eager for more on Torr and Grace.
Once again I don’t think new readers should start with any book other than the first. The author doesn’t spend a lot of time explaining stuff that regular readers know and instead builds on that knowledge.
Even though this book didn’t work for me and is the weakest, I still highly recommend this series.
September 6, 2011
4.5 stars even though I loved it. I was looking for Lexi right after Helen's, so glad this is her book. Don't know why I'm not giving it 5 stars, maybe it's a combination of Lexi's constant distrust, belief and her naggings. It got old and annoyed, but given her situation, it's either believe Zach -aka monster, enemy, bloodsucker, etc.- or her Mom? so she had her reasons but still... That said, the book was non-stop action. I loved all the storylines running along Zach&Lexi's. As I've mentioned and maybe that's what intriguing about this series, the notion of hopelessness in wining and protecting humans from all kinds of monsters, the bleak future of the Sentinel races where each male has to find his compatible Theronai female or else he'd died or loss his soul, balanced and overshadowed with another HEA and bad-ass heroine...made it all better!
Amazing storytelling with such exciting plot, great characters and plenty of hotness. Moving on to the next book, woohoo.
Amazing storytelling with such exciting plot, great characters and plenty of hotness. Moving on to the next book, woohoo.
December 7, 2011
Running Scared continues the search for more Theronai women and focuses on the much awaited Zach and Lexie story. Lexie was introduced to us in the first book as the feisty waitress friend of Helen's. Lexie has been running since the first book but has been running all her life. Lexie's mom kept a journal of all things she knew about the Sentinel and how to protect yourself from being found by them. Lexie has some pretty distorted ideas about the Sentinels and that just makes things harder for everyone. So, she finally decides she no longer wants to run away from Zach. She actually decides she will trick Zach into thinking she is giving in but actually wants to go back to the compound and blow it up. Apparently there are humans out there, the Defenders of Humanity, that know about the Sentinels and are not happy with them taking up battles on their once prosperous farms, rendering them useless after the battle. The Sentinels kill Synestryns and because everything about the Synestryns is evil and toxic any place they die at dies with them. The Defenders of Humanity have had enough and their radical leader wants to do anything possible to get rid of the Sentinels and at any cost.
I have to say I loved the beginning. I loved the end... Ummm the middle...not so much. The author stayed true to her M.O. and started the book with lots of action. The ending wrapped some loose ends and nicely too but also started some new loose ends. As I mentioned before, Lexie calls Zach to come and meet up with her in Texas. Now, she makes this phone call at the end of book 2 and makes it sound like the Synestryn are after her. She was scared and hung up mid through conversation. Tell me why Zach shows up in Texas a week later! What?! Ok... I let that slide because the rest of the beginning was better. Zach sits Lexie down and tells her everything about the Theronai men dying and needing the Theronai women to survive. He tells her that in time they can come to love one another through their bond but that she can actually choose to love another and still be bonded with him to fight the war. The interaction between Zach and Lexie in the beginning was a lot more real to me than the other books because he took the time to explain things to Lexie and pretty much said hey, I can't promise you love but the truth of this whole thing is I need you to survive because of a, b and c.
The middle of the book was slow... Really slow and man was I irritated by some of the writing. By the middle of the book Zach has already been told by Lexie some of the things her mother told her. For example, Lexie believes that the Sentinels keep the Synestryn as pets. Lexie also believes that Sentinels want to torture humans and enslave them. Again, this has been engraved into Lexie's brain since she could comprehend it by her mother. It also didn't help that she saw her mother her mother in pieces after a Synestryn attack. Zach tells her that the Sentinels kill Synestryn and they are definitely not kept as pets. Zach tells Lexie that they are bound to protect humans and the Earth and the gate to the other world. Zach tells Lexie they are the good guys. In fact Lexie starts to notice things on her own and states that Zach doesn't behave like the monster her mother spoke of. Zach even takes Lexie to the compound Dabyr to see for herself that they house humans and take care of them, that they are good people.
So here is where my frustration sets in BIG TIME. Here is I start to lose faith in the writer and in my desire to continue with this story... Lexie walks the ground at Dabyr and sees all the happy humans lounging and living a good life. Lexie speaks to Helen and the little old lady she met at the dinner in book one. They both tell her how happy they are and how much good is being done in Dabyr. A reluctant, pig headed, mighty stubborn, close minded Lexie starts to believe in the truth and decides she is going to tell Zach about the plan she and the Defenders of Humanity came up with to blow them all up to pieces. She tells Zach everything. He asks her how did she meet them, how long had she known them and some other questions. He finally tells her that this is huge and that although he believes that she is not going to kill them anymore he can't vouch for her because they haven't made much progress on their connection. Without the connection he can't see in her head to see that it's the truth she speaks. Zach has to bring in his leader and that it won't be pretty. So Joseph comes to talk to Lexie and here is where I LOSE IT! Joseph and Zach both start to interrogate Lexie and do you know that Zach asks Lexie the same question that he did before getting Joseph and asks them as if it's the first time he's asking and hearing the answer?! Oh and let's not forget that Lexie goes into her whole story about her mother telling her that Synestryns are the Sentinel's pets. When Joseph gives her the crazy look she says " What? They're not?"!! GOOD FREAKIN' GRIEF! She already knows they are not because Zach told her in the first third of the book not to mention she say him kill a few already. WTH man!
That is starting to really bug me because I expect the author to know the world she/he has created. I expect the author to want me to want to be a part of that world as much as she/he is and the characters are. I expect the author to be consistent and not have me read something like she wrote one part and then sat it down for about a year and picked it up back again and started typing the rest of the story up from where she thought she/he left off. I mean come on! I'm sorry I do expect the author to keep notes and to know what they heck they have covered in the previous books. I remember those details why can't they?
We come to the end where Lexie and Shannon K Butcher redeem themselves totally. Definitely liked it. I thought it was going one totally different way than it did and that was a great surprise!
I still don't like Andra. I really don't like her. I think it has to do with how the author chooses to express Andra. Andra just seems like a brute to me. A female brute. Still digging Nika and Madoc. Liking the whole Grace and Torr story. The author introduces a few new characters and I'm curious in seeing where she takes this, unless of course she ticks me off again and I have to reconsider finishing the series or at least giving it a break.
I give this book a 4 because of the beginning and the end. I give this book a 4 because of the world she has created and the potential it has to be great. I also gave it a 4 because of Zach and the sometimes annoying Lexie. That middle part was a straight up 1 only cause I can't give it a 0...
I'm done with my rant. On to the next one. :-)
I have to say I loved the beginning. I loved the end... Ummm the middle...not so much. The author stayed true to her M.O. and started the book with lots of action. The ending wrapped some loose ends and nicely too but also started some new loose ends. As I mentioned before, Lexie calls Zach to come and meet up with her in Texas. Now, she makes this phone call at the end of book 2 and makes it sound like the Synestryn are after her. She was scared and hung up mid through conversation. Tell me why Zach shows up in Texas a week later! What?! Ok... I let that slide because the rest of the beginning was better. Zach sits Lexie down and tells her everything about the Theronai men dying and needing the Theronai women to survive. He tells her that in time they can come to love one another through their bond but that she can actually choose to love another and still be bonded with him to fight the war. The interaction between Zach and Lexie in the beginning was a lot more real to me than the other books because he took the time to explain things to Lexie and pretty much said hey, I can't promise you love but the truth of this whole thing is I need you to survive because of a, b and c.
The middle of the book was slow... Really slow and man was I irritated by some of the writing. By the middle of the book Zach has already been told by Lexie some of the things her mother told her. For example, Lexie believes that the Sentinels keep the Synestryn as pets. Lexie also believes that Sentinels want to torture humans and enslave them. Again, this has been engraved into Lexie's brain since she could comprehend it by her mother. It also didn't help that she saw her mother her mother in pieces after a Synestryn attack. Zach tells her that the Sentinels kill Synestryn and they are definitely not kept as pets. Zach tells Lexie that they are bound to protect humans and the Earth and the gate to the other world. Zach tells Lexie they are the good guys. In fact Lexie starts to notice things on her own and states that Zach doesn't behave like the monster her mother spoke of. Zach even takes Lexie to the compound Dabyr to see for herself that they house humans and take care of them, that they are good people.
So here is where my frustration sets in BIG TIME. Here is I start to lose faith in the writer and in my desire to continue with this story... Lexie walks the ground at Dabyr and sees all the happy humans lounging and living a good life. Lexie speaks to Helen and the little old lady she met at the dinner in book one. They both tell her how happy they are and how much good is being done in Dabyr. A reluctant, pig headed, mighty stubborn, close minded Lexie starts to believe in the truth and decides she is going to tell Zach about the plan she and the Defenders of Humanity came up with to blow them all up to pieces. She tells Zach everything. He asks her how did she meet them, how long had she known them and some other questions. He finally tells her that this is huge and that although he believes that she is not going to kill them anymore he can't vouch for her because they haven't made much progress on their connection. Without the connection he can't see in her head to see that it's the truth she speaks. Zach has to bring in his leader and that it won't be pretty. So Joseph comes to talk to Lexie and here is where I LOSE IT! Joseph and Zach both start to interrogate Lexie and do you know that Zach asks Lexie the same question that he did before getting Joseph and asks them as if it's the first time he's asking and hearing the answer?! Oh and let's not forget that Lexie goes into her whole story about her mother telling her that Synestryns are the Sentinel's pets. When Joseph gives her the crazy look she says " What? They're not?"!! GOOD FREAKIN' GRIEF! She already knows they are not because Zach told her in the first third of the book not to mention she say him kill a few already. WTH man!
That is starting to really bug me because I expect the author to know the world she/he has created. I expect the author to want me to want to be a part of that world as much as she/he is and the characters are. I expect the author to be consistent and not have me read something like she wrote one part and then sat it down for about a year and picked it up back again and started typing the rest of the story up from where she thought she/he left off. I mean come on! I'm sorry I do expect the author to keep notes and to know what they heck they have covered in the previous books. I remember those details why can't they?
We come to the end where Lexie and Shannon K Butcher redeem themselves totally. Definitely liked it. I thought it was going one totally different way than it did and that was a great surprise!
I still don't like Andra. I really don't like her. I think it has to do with how the author chooses to express Andra. Andra just seems like a brute to me. A female brute. Still digging Nika and Madoc. Liking the whole Grace and Torr story. The author introduces a few new characters and I'm curious in seeing where she takes this, unless of course she ticks me off again and I have to reconsider finishing the series or at least giving it a break.
I give this book a 4 because of the beginning and the end. I give this book a 4 because of the world she has created and the potential it has to be great. I also gave it a 4 because of Zach and the sometimes annoying Lexie. That middle part was a straight up 1 only cause I can't give it a 0...
I'm done with my rant. On to the next one. :-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2019
This was pretty good, though I didn't like the ending.
I liked Lexi and Zach well enough. I felt bad for Lexi, and I did think they had good chemistry. I didn't like that Zach chased her in part because he was so desperate. I don't like romances that start out, not from genuine feeling, but from need. Overall, though, I did feel that they had chemistry and that their romance worked out. I'm particularly glad that Zach listened to Lexi about why she was going to blow up the compound. I also liked Lexi's powers; they really complemented her protective nature.
So, the bad part... the ending... it felt rushed, uncoordinated, and just in general, not well planned out. I also just didn't like that part of the plot.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I wouldn't say it was the best in the series, but I think they made a sweet couple and that the story was mostly well-written.
I liked Lexi and Zach well enough. I felt bad for Lexi, and I did think they had good chemistry. I didn't like that Zach chased her in part because he was so desperate. I don't like romances that start out, not from genuine feeling, but from need. Overall, though, I did feel that they had chemistry and that their romance worked out. I'm particularly glad that Zach listened to Lexi about why she was going to blow up the compound. I also liked Lexi's powers; they really complemented her protective nature.
So, the bad part... the ending... it felt rushed, uncoordinated, and just in general, not well planned out. I also just didn't like that part of the plot.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I wouldn't say it was the best in the series, but I think they made a sweet couple and that the story was mostly well-written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2010
In the lead are Zach and Lexi whose story we've been waiting on since they met in the first book - in an encounter that left Zach bleeding and Lexi on the run. Zach's finally caught up with Lexi, but it's only because Lexi has a plan to use Zach's apparent obsession for her in order to gain entry to the Sentinel's hidden compound, to save her 'brainwashed' friend Helen and then to take out the 'evil' Sentinels once and for all.
There's a lot going on in this third installment of Butcher's Sentinel Wars. In addition to Lexi and Zach, there are also side threads for future pairs Nika and the almost turned Madoc, as well as Grace and the crippled Torr. Not to mention a prince from another dimension, the secret planes of the Sanguinar( the Sentinel's vampire-like allies), a traitor, and a couple more minor continuing plot lines.
With all of that, Running Scared is probably just a little too much of a good thing. Though I must say I that there was more than enough of the cynical Lexi questioning her attraction to Zach, an attraction which she blames on some kind of magical poisoning and her firm belief that she's being brainwashed. Lexi's distrust it serves to make the pair work for their happily-ever-after but it didn't allow for the tension to build as effectively it did with the pairs in previous books.
Still over all I did like Running Scared and there is plenty of promise for the future - Nika/Madoc and Grace/Tohr have a great deal of appeal and the cards are not stacked in their favor so they will really have to work for their HEA's - so I am definitely still on board for book 4 Living Nightmare: The Sentinel Wars, out in November of 2010 and maybe if we are lucky Butcher's short in Dark and Stormy Knights(July) will be connected to the Sentinels too.
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If you are new to the series, I really enjoyed the first two books(Burning Alive: The Sentinel Wars, Finding the Lost: The Sentinel Wars). The Sentinels are warriors from another world protecting humans and a gate from monsters. The warriors are immortal and in constant pain because they draw energy from the earth but can't release it unless paired with a female of their species who can channel the energy as magic. Without a compatible female to bleed off the energy build up, the anguished warriors are slowly losing leaves from a magical `tree of life' tattoo which indicate how much time the warriors have left before losing their souls and becoming monsters themselves. Unfortunately, there aren't many females and no more children are being born either, so the hope of salvation is slim.
There's a lot going on in this third installment of Butcher's Sentinel Wars. In addition to Lexi and Zach, there are also side threads for future pairs Nika and the almost turned Madoc, as well as Grace and the crippled Torr. Not to mention a prince from another dimension, the secret planes of the Sanguinar( the Sentinel's vampire-like allies), a traitor, and a couple more minor continuing plot lines.
With all of that, Running Scared is probably just a little too much of a good thing. Though I must say I that there was more than enough of the cynical Lexi questioning her attraction to Zach, an attraction which she blames on some kind of magical poisoning and her firm belief that she's being brainwashed. Lexi's distrust it serves to make the pair work for their happily-ever-after but it didn't allow for the tension to build as effectively it did with the pairs in previous books.
Still over all I did like Running Scared and there is plenty of promise for the future - Nika/Madoc and Grace/Tohr have a great deal of appeal and the cards are not stacked in their favor so they will really have to work for their HEA's - so I am definitely still on board for book 4 Living Nightmare: The Sentinel Wars, out in November of 2010 and maybe if we are lucky Butcher's short in Dark and Stormy Knights(July) will be connected to the Sentinels too.
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If you are new to the series, I really enjoyed the first two books(Burning Alive: The Sentinel Wars, Finding the Lost: The Sentinel Wars). The Sentinels are warriors from another world protecting humans and a gate from monsters. The warriors are immortal and in constant pain because they draw energy from the earth but can't release it unless paired with a female of their species who can channel the energy as magic. Without a compatible female to bleed off the energy build up, the anguished warriors are slowly losing leaves from a magical `tree of life' tattoo which indicate how much time the warriors have left before losing their souls and becoming monsters themselves. Unfortunately, there aren't many females and no more children are being born either, so the hope of salvation is slim.
October 20, 2013
4.75stars
This installment has Lexi Johns determined to save her friend Helen Day from the Sentinels. Lexi is certain the Sentinels are holding Helen against her will until they can complete her brainwashing. Lexi concocts a scheme with help from the Defenders for Humanity, archenemies of the Sentinels, that will put Lexi in their stronghold that will eliminate the Sentinels forever. But even the best laid plans of a determined woman that doesn't have all the information she needs is doomed to fail. The start of that failure is Lexi lies to Zach, telling him she has been attacked by Synestryn. Both of these characters were introduced in and still hold the same amount of charm and their spark of chemistry is fanned here. Zack is determined to gain Lexi's trust and win her love while Lexi is just as determined to withhold those same things because she is convinced the Sentinels are here to eliminate mankind.
Meanwhile Nika is still suffering, but has bouts of clarity and is trying to find ways to make it known that Madoc is the Theronai for her. Madoc feels it as well but hasn't taken into consideration Nika's illness prevents her from responding the way she should, he's also thinking about the state of his own leaves. Both Nika and Madoc become more frustrated as males continue to visit and touch Nika in hopes that she is the mate for them. Cameos and updates of the other Sentinels and their mates bring changes and tantalizing tidbits for future installments.
Lexi was a bit tiresome (IMO) with her tirade of the evil Sentinels as she wavered in her feelings and actions toward Zach through quite a lot of the read, although it was understandable given her assumptions and friends. She came off as one-note. The Nika and Madoc situation really needs to be resolved as its been around for a couple of installments with no real new ground being covered, as does the Torr & Grace thread. For some bizarre reason that even I don't understand I waited a long time before moving to book 3 of this series and I really liked it. I definitely will not wait as long before moving on to the next installment.
This installment has Lexi Johns determined to save her friend Helen Day from the Sentinels. Lexi is certain the Sentinels are holding Helen against her will until they can complete her brainwashing. Lexi concocts a scheme with help from the Defenders for Humanity, archenemies of the Sentinels, that will put Lexi in their stronghold that will eliminate the Sentinels forever. But even the best laid plans of a determined woman that doesn't have all the information she needs is doomed to fail. The start of that failure is Lexi lies to Zach, telling him she has been attacked by Synestryn. Both of these characters were introduced in and still hold the same amount of charm and their spark of chemistry is fanned here. Zack is determined to gain Lexi's trust and win her love while Lexi is just as determined to withhold those same things because she is convinced the Sentinels are here to eliminate mankind.
Meanwhile Nika is still suffering, but has bouts of clarity and is trying to find ways to make it known that Madoc is the Theronai for her. Madoc feels it as well but hasn't taken into consideration Nika's illness prevents her from responding the way she should, he's also thinking about the state of his own leaves. Both Nika and Madoc become more frustrated as males continue to visit and touch Nika in hopes that she is the mate for them. Cameos and updates of the other Sentinels and their mates bring changes and tantalizing tidbits for future installments.
Lexi was a bit tiresome (IMO) with her tirade of the evil Sentinels as she wavered in her feelings and actions toward Zach through quite a lot of the read, although it was understandable given her assumptions and friends. She came off as one-note. The Nika and Madoc situation really needs to be resolved as its been around for a couple of installments with no real new ground being covered, as does the Torr & Grace thread. For some bizarre reason that even I don't understand I waited a long time before moving to book 3 of this series and I really liked it. I definitely will not wait as long before moving on to the next installment.
May 7, 2010
Review by Catherine Garrabrant for RomanceNovelNews.com
Nomad Lexi Johns is on the run in the third book of Shannon K. Butcher's “The Sentinel Wars� series. “Running Scared� follows Lexi’s quest for revenge against the Sentinels � a misunderstood group of otherworldly beings � while being intensely pursued by a member named Zach.
Lexi despises the Sentinels because she believes they killed her mother and they intend to brainwash her like her friend Helen. Lexi plans to rescue Helen who is being held in a secret Sentinel stronghold.
Zach wants to protect Lexi and show her that Sentinels were sent to Earth to protect humans from an evil race called the Synestryn and are not the killers she believes. What he doesn't know is that Lexi is working with Hector Morrow, the head of a militant group called The Defenders of Humanity, who wants to kill as many Sentinels as possible in retaliation for his daughter’s murder. He has devised a plan for Lexi to infiltrate the Sentinel fortress and detonate a car bomb.
Zach and Lexi have an undeniable compatibility that confuses her. Is it real or a Sentinel trick? After getting to know the Sentinels and seeing Helen so happy with her mate, she begins to question her beliefs.
Zach is a worthy hero who is at times too patient and understanding with Lexi. He pursues her in a titillating game of cat and mouse. But just when it appears that the pair will finally bond, Lexi refuses to let down her guard.
Butcher writes an intricate storyline that can be hard to follow without reading the previous books in the series. She introduces subplots that tease but offer no resolution. One such subplot involves a paralyzed Sentinel warrior named Torr who has lost his will to live. He attempts to starve himself to death, but Grace, the kind-hearted woman he once rescued, tempts him with an enticing offer to get him to eat.
The concept of the Sentinel mating is intriguing. Men cannot survive without their women and together, they not only form eternal bonds, but powerful duos as well.
Butcher’s fourth book in the series, “Living Nightmare,� will be released in November.
Nomad Lexi Johns is on the run in the third book of Shannon K. Butcher's “The Sentinel Wars� series. “Running Scared� follows Lexi’s quest for revenge against the Sentinels � a misunderstood group of otherworldly beings � while being intensely pursued by a member named Zach.
Lexi despises the Sentinels because she believes they killed her mother and they intend to brainwash her like her friend Helen. Lexi plans to rescue Helen who is being held in a secret Sentinel stronghold.
Zach wants to protect Lexi and show her that Sentinels were sent to Earth to protect humans from an evil race called the Synestryn and are not the killers she believes. What he doesn't know is that Lexi is working with Hector Morrow, the head of a militant group called The Defenders of Humanity, who wants to kill as many Sentinels as possible in retaliation for his daughter’s murder. He has devised a plan for Lexi to infiltrate the Sentinel fortress and detonate a car bomb.
Zach and Lexi have an undeniable compatibility that confuses her. Is it real or a Sentinel trick? After getting to know the Sentinels and seeing Helen so happy with her mate, she begins to question her beliefs.
Zach is a worthy hero who is at times too patient and understanding with Lexi. He pursues her in a titillating game of cat and mouse. But just when it appears that the pair will finally bond, Lexi refuses to let down her guard.
Butcher writes an intricate storyline that can be hard to follow without reading the previous books in the series. She introduces subplots that tease but offer no resolution. One such subplot involves a paralyzed Sentinel warrior named Torr who has lost his will to live. He attempts to starve himself to death, but Grace, the kind-hearted woman he once rescued, tempts him with an enticing offer to get him to eat.
The concept of the Sentinel mating is intriguing. Men cannot survive without their women and together, they not only form eternal bonds, but powerful duos as well.
Butcher’s fourth book in the series, “Living Nightmare,� will be released in November.
May 9, 2010
This would have to be my favorite book in the series so far. I loved the first two, but I waited for Shannon to write Zach and Lexi's story and it was worth the wait. This series is slowly climbing into my top three favorites.
Zach and Lexi's characters were introduced in the first book with Drake and Helen. I remember reading and loving Drake and Helen, but could not wait to read more on Zach and Lexi. I found their characters to be very funny and wild. In Running Scared it was the same thing. I think they were meant for each other. Shannon matched up these characters perfectly. Lately I've been reading a lot of books where the female is a very strong minded person and is not afraid to fight for what they believe in. Shannon has given that in Running Scared. Lexi knows how to defend herself, she does not back down from anything even if she is afraid and will do whatever to protect those she cares about.
I find Zach's obsession with Lexi hilarious and I don't know why. I remember reading the first book laughing to myself at how he was like high off of meeting Lexi haha. He pretty much hunted her down through out the first and second book. She was the one for him and he was not stopping until he showed her that. Of course he had a very hard time because Lexi had her mind made up that his kind were the enemies.
Another thing I really liked about this book was that Shannon gave us a little more on Madoc and Nika. I really would like to see them end up together. I love Madoc's attitude it is just so sexy!
The only problem I did have with this book was a small chapter near the end (a bit of a spoiler) where Shannon introduces a new character that is suppose to be two of the girls real father. I just felt like that whole scene could have been written differently. It's hard to explain exactly what I did not like, but I do know it explained a lot.
I still give this book 5 stars honestly. I really like this series and can not wait for the next book.
Zach and Lexi's characters were introduced in the first book with Drake and Helen. I remember reading and loving Drake and Helen, but could not wait to read more on Zach and Lexi. I found their characters to be very funny and wild. In Running Scared it was the same thing. I think they were meant for each other. Shannon matched up these characters perfectly. Lately I've been reading a lot of books where the female is a very strong minded person and is not afraid to fight for what they believe in. Shannon has given that in Running Scared. Lexi knows how to defend herself, she does not back down from anything even if she is afraid and will do whatever to protect those she cares about.
I find Zach's obsession with Lexi hilarious and I don't know why. I remember reading the first book laughing to myself at how he was like high off of meeting Lexi haha. He pretty much hunted her down through out the first and second book. She was the one for him and he was not stopping until he showed her that. Of course he had a very hard time because Lexi had her mind made up that his kind were the enemies.
Another thing I really liked about this book was that Shannon gave us a little more on Madoc and Nika. I really would like to see them end up together. I love Madoc's attitude it is just so sexy!
The only problem I did have with this book was a small chapter near the end (a bit of a spoiler) where Shannon introduces a new character that is suppose to be two of the girls real father. I just felt like that whole scene could have been written differently. It's hard to explain exactly what I did not like, but I do know it explained a lot.
I still give this book 5 stars honestly. I really like this series and can not wait for the next book.
January 7, 2017
Holy crow! Plot lines! Spoilers! Jeebus! SO much goes on in this one, its kinda hard to keep track of everything.
So Running Scared is the third in the Sentinels series. It's a little slow because there is so much happening, but it is still really good. I like how she weaves the characters and starting points of different books coming up in the series into the one you're reading currently. I mean, in book one she set up the plot for book 3. In book 2 she set up the plot for book 4, and now in book 3 she's set up book 5. At least that seems to be the pattern.
There is sooo much going on in this book. First, we're introduced to 2 more characters, and then 4 plot lines are thrown at us here. It'll be fascinating to see how they all work out in the end.
I mean we discover that the vampires have something going on called Project Lullaby, with a possible breeding project tied into it, the Solaris princes are apparently breeding with humans and it looks like this is where all the Sentinal womenfolk are coming from, and it's all Gilda's fault the men are sterile.
So...yeah...lots to absorb here, but definitely not one to miss. I had my misgivings about this series at first, but it is swiftly proving to be quite addicting. Looking forward to Living Nightmare.
So Running Scared is the third in the Sentinels series. It's a little slow because there is so much happening, but it is still really good. I like how she weaves the characters and starting points of different books coming up in the series into the one you're reading currently. I mean, in book one she set up the plot for book 3. In book 2 she set up the plot for book 4, and now in book 3 she's set up book 5. At least that seems to be the pattern.
There is sooo much going on in this book. First, we're introduced to 2 more characters, and then 4 plot lines are thrown at us here. It'll be fascinating to see how they all work out in the end.
I mean we discover that the vampires have something going on called Project Lullaby, with a possible breeding project tied into it, the Solaris princes are apparently breeding with humans and it looks like this is where all the Sentinal womenfolk are coming from, and it's all Gilda's fault the men are sterile.
So...yeah...lots to absorb here, but definitely not one to miss. I had my misgivings about this series at first, but it is swiftly proving to be quite addicting. Looking forward to Living Nightmare.
June 27, 2012
Decent installment to a series I wish were just a little bit better. I love the world it's set in and the overall story arc, I'm just not crazy about her romantic plots. The second book was a total dud and this one is better, but still not on par with the Burning Alive, the first book.
The ending had a good climax and resolution, and I bought Lexi's power. I also enjoyed the prince showing up to explain how all these women came to be, and revealing that Helen and Lexi were sisters. Can't wait to see who Jackie pairs up with. I am intrigued by the Sanguinar as well...what are they up to? When will Gilda be found out?
Amazingly, my favorite parts of this book were the parts with Madoc and Nika and the parts with Grace and Torr. I know the next book in the series is about Madoc and Nika, so I'm hoping she doesn't ruin the great story she's begun with them. Looking forward to more about Grace and Torr, too.
The ending had a good climax and resolution, and I bought Lexi's power. I also enjoyed the prince showing up to explain how all these women came to be, and revealing that Helen and Lexi were sisters. Can't wait to see who Jackie pairs up with. I am intrigued by the Sanguinar as well...what are they up to? When will Gilda be found out?
Amazingly, my favorite parts of this book were the parts with Madoc and Nika and the parts with Grace and Torr. I know the next book in the series is about Madoc and Nika, so I'm hoping she doesn't ruin the great story she's begun with them. Looking forward to more about Grace and Torr, too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2012
3.5 stars
I love the Urban Fantasy and the imaginative world building elements of this series more than the actual couple pairings. In the first three books the desperation of the Theronai males and the unwillingness/snarkiness of the heroines is just a touch annoying.
Lots of good storylines coming up though. So much of the world has been hinted at and not explored - there is a lot more to be revealed about the blood drinking Sanguinars and the mysterious Slayers and lots of characters are hiding secrets...
I'm looking forward to Nika/ Madoc and Grace/Torr's stories to be expanded - maybe I'll change my mind about the HEA's being the weakness part of this creative series.
I love the Urban Fantasy and the imaginative world building elements of this series more than the actual couple pairings. In the first three books the desperation of the Theronai males and the unwillingness/snarkiness of the heroines is just a touch annoying.
Lots of good storylines coming up though. So much of the world has been hinted at and not explored - there is a lot more to be revealed about the blood drinking Sanguinars and the mysterious Slayers and lots of characters are hiding secrets...
I'm looking forward to Nika/ Madoc and Grace/Torr's stories to be expanded - maybe I'll change my mind about the HEA's being the weakness part of this creative series.
August 7, 2010
OK, I am officially addicted to this series. This, the third book, kept me sneaking away to read during a horrendously busy day because I had to see what happened next! I lOVED Zach, he was the perfect combination of humor, determination, protectiveness, good looks, and power, yeah! Lexie was also fun to read. She was a strong, resilient woman with serious issues to overcome but the wonderful heart, honesty and courage to attempt it. A great paranormal (but not one that should be read without reading the first two in the series before) with hot romance (scene skippers prepare) that will leave you biting your lips waiting for the next one to be published.
May 18, 2010
LOVED IT!! I felt the last book was a little mediocre, and this one just plain kicked it's butt! It had non stop action, intricate plot lines that went beyond the main couple, new characters, a new storyline and a hot romance. What else could I ask for from a book? The reason I didn't give it 5 stars you ask, the main heroine (Lexi) became a tad annoying with her constant self questioning and denial. But other than that, I didn't have a complaint. I can't wait for the next book, Living Nightmare, which is going to be about Maddox and Nika (FINALLY!)
June 28, 2010
This was really more of the same which is too bad since the world arc is intriguing. The sex scenes were good but the relationship progression was predictable since it followed the same format as the first two books. I'd really like the formula to be switched up a bit. I find the world and overarching story to be compelling and greatly enjoy Shannon's writing but the specifics are starting to be repetitive. I hope she throws a change up in the fourth book or I may have to stop reading the series.
May 13, 2010
I like the premise of this series... it's just a little weak on the follow through. I don't feel like I connect and understand the heriones. If they have the background that Butcher gives them, their actions don't make sense to me. On the other hand, I will have to read the next one, because I love the heros.
May 21, 2010
Okay... maybe 4 1/2 is a better rating. This is one amazing series, and Lexi and Zach spark on each page... And the saga just keeps going. At this point in the story, you'd better be reading the other books first. So be sure and add Burning Alive and Finding the Lost on your TBR list and get on with it! lol
I can't wait for Nika - 'bout time! lol
I can't wait for Nika - 'bout time! lol
September 13, 2018
La historia de Lexi y Zack es bastante rara porque ella tiene un montón de preconceptos sobre los centinelas. Solo el peligro mortal la hará confiar en él y aceptar su amor.
Me gustó mucho que este epÃlogo fuera, a diferencia del anterior, esperanzador, con la visita de Lucien y el descubrimiento de que Lexie y Hellen ¡son hermanas!
Me gustó mucho que este epÃlogo fuera, a diferencia del anterior, esperanzador, con la visita de Lucien y el descubrimiento de que Lexie y Hellen ¡son hermanas!
June 7, 2012
DNF
I have just skimmed the rest of this book to get an idea of the plot. I CANNOT stand this heroine, I get that she is confused blah blah blah... I ran out of patience with her within the first couple of chapters..
Zach deserves better
I have just skimmed the rest of this book to get an idea of the plot. I CANNOT stand this heroine, I get that she is confused blah blah blah... I ran out of patience with her within the first couple of chapters..
Zach deserves better
August 18, 2010
Read my review here
February 19, 2017
Great paranormal romance. Strong females, delicious, flawed males. This author writes pretty good action scenes.
December 31, 2017
Third in the Sentinel Wars dark paranormal romance series revolving around supernatural guardians tasked with protecting the gate between worlds, protecting humanity. The couple focus is on Lexi Johns and Zach.
My Take
Phew, we finally find out where Lexi's extreme paranoia about the Sentinels comes from.
Why does no one in this series ever listen?? Nika keeps telling people that she needs Madoc. Every time Madoc is around, she feels better. Hullo??
One thing that really bothers me about the relationship Butcher has set up between the men and women is the demands the men make. Sure, I get that without a woman to bond with him, a Sentinel will die. So, they figure the best way to charm a woman into this bond is to tell her that "We'll have years to get to know each other…[and]...Given time, I'll come to love you."? Oh, yeah, these are the words I've always longed to hear...not. Admittedly, these are good and decent men. They just don't have a lot of time, nor much in the way of finesse�
Oh, wow, the end had the most amazing twist�! While Lexi's little speech is excellent, its effect on the men who want to watch her death is too simplistic. Sweet, but naive.
The Story
Lexi is loyal. Loyal to her friends, her mother. If she can save Helen and Miss Mabel AND strike a blow for humanity, she'll take it. All she has to remember is the danger the Sentinels pose to the world. A task that becomes harder and harder as Zach and his fellow Sentinels veer off the path Lexi has always believed they follow.
Nika is still unconscious and still a puzzle for the healers. The splintering of her mind into so many sgath is unprecedented and both the Theronai and the Sanguinar are clutching at straws---the men parading through her room to see if they are compatible even as they cut down sgath hoping to free up more of Nika's mind.
Lexi is desperate now. She understands her mother's strictures better and she doesn't want harm to come to anyone. A wish that becomes moot when Zach is captured, held hostage to her own death.
The Characters
Lexi Johns was a waitress at the diner when Helen and Miss Mabel were kidnapped (see ). Zach, a Sentinel, is desperate to find the woman who may keep him alive.
Sentinels are...
...different groups of secret warriors fighting the demons: the Theronai and the Sanguinar are just two such groups. The Theronai's main weakness is age. As the male ages, his internal energy level increases with the pain almost unbearable until it burns him out and he loses his soul. The only relief from this build-up is if a Sentinel is bonded with a female Sentinel, and the Sentinels are dying, they are losing the war.
Drake and Helen Asher and Paul and Andra are two of only three bonded couples amongst the Sentinels. Nika is Andra's sister and still very fragile. Joseph Rayd is the leader of the Theronai Sentinels. Madoc is at the end of his life and a member of the Band of the Barren, Nicholas Brand is their computer guy, Iain Terra is both lethal and reliable, Neal, Morgan Valens, and Samuel are other Sentinels hoping Nika will bond to them.
The extremely young Sibyl has been rescued and sees the future. Cain is her unconscious Theronai bodyguard. Her sister, Maura, is still a prisoner of the Synestra. Both are the daughters of Gilda and Angus. Gilda is the Gray Lady; until Helen she was the only Sentinel female. Old and incredibly powerful, she is so angry on so many levels; Angus is her husband.
Logan, Ronan, Alexander, and Tynan are Sanguinar demons. And healers whose truce with the Theronai provides the Sentinels with healing. They have their own agenda and are involved with a secret Sanguinaran venture called Project Lullaby.
Meghan Clark's father is dying of cancer, and Alexander promises to save him in return for her taking a trip. I think this begins to explain Project Lullaby.
Slade, Vance, and Carmen are Gerai, blooded humans who have vowed to help the Sentinels in any way. Grace is a Gerai working in the fortress and in love with the paralyzed and suicidal Torr.
The Defenders of Humanity are...
...a militia group who believe the Sentinels are evil. A viewpoint promoted by their leader Hector Morrow. Jake Morrow is Hector's son.
Synestryn is...
...a group name for the monsters, demons, and other beasties that go bump in the night. Their purpose in life is to conquer the world "using humans as food while they battle their way into ... Athanasia".
I think Connal is a Sanguinar who has been turned, altered, by Zillah, a Synestryn with a plan to retake the Sibyl.
Athanasia is...
...another world whose tyrant king, Solarc, has shut the gate between his world and ours, forbidding his sons from visiting Earth.
Lucien is a son of the Solarc and father to Helen, Lexi, and Jackie. His brother Eron is the father of Andra and Nika.
The Cover and Title
The cover is the deepest reds to the brightest in almost winglike swaths as Zach prepares to fight, his sword clenched in a two-handed grip and raised up and across his bare torso. Well, bare except for the bare tree of life tattoo that indicates too well how close he is to death.
The title is true about almost all the Sentinels. The ones without bondmates. They are all Running Scared.
My Take
Phew, we finally find out where Lexi's extreme paranoia about the Sentinels comes from.
Why does no one in this series ever listen?? Nika keeps telling people that she needs Madoc. Every time Madoc is around, she feels better. Hullo??
One thing that really bothers me about the relationship Butcher has set up between the men and women is the demands the men make. Sure, I get that without a woman to bond with him, a Sentinel will die. So, they figure the best way to charm a woman into this bond is to tell her that "We'll have years to get to know each other…[and]...Given time, I'll come to love you."? Oh, yeah, these are the words I've always longed to hear...not. Admittedly, these are good and decent men. They just don't have a lot of time, nor much in the way of finesse�
Oh, wow, the end had the most amazing twist�! While Lexi's little speech is excellent, its effect on the men who want to watch her death is too simplistic. Sweet, but naive.
The Story
Lexi is loyal. Loyal to her friends, her mother. If she can save Helen and Miss Mabel AND strike a blow for humanity, she'll take it. All she has to remember is the danger the Sentinels pose to the world. A task that becomes harder and harder as Zach and his fellow Sentinels veer off the path Lexi has always believed they follow.
Nika is still unconscious and still a puzzle for the healers. The splintering of her mind into so many sgath is unprecedented and both the Theronai and the Sanguinar are clutching at straws---the men parading through her room to see if they are compatible even as they cut down sgath hoping to free up more of Nika's mind.
Lexi is desperate now. She understands her mother's strictures better and she doesn't want harm to come to anyone. A wish that becomes moot when Zach is captured, held hostage to her own death.
The Characters
Lexi Johns was a waitress at the diner when Helen and Miss Mabel were kidnapped (see ). Zach, a Sentinel, is desperate to find the woman who may keep him alive.
Sentinels are...
...different groups of secret warriors fighting the demons: the Theronai and the Sanguinar are just two such groups. The Theronai's main weakness is age. As the male ages, his internal energy level increases with the pain almost unbearable until it burns him out and he loses his soul. The only relief from this build-up is if a Sentinel is bonded with a female Sentinel, and the Sentinels are dying, they are losing the war.
Drake and Helen Asher and Paul and Andra are two of only three bonded couples amongst the Sentinels. Nika is Andra's sister and still very fragile. Joseph Rayd is the leader of the Theronai Sentinels. Madoc is at the end of his life and a member of the Band of the Barren, Nicholas Brand is their computer guy, Iain Terra is both lethal and reliable, Neal, Morgan Valens, and Samuel are other Sentinels hoping Nika will bond to them.
The extremely young Sibyl has been rescued and sees the future. Cain is her unconscious Theronai bodyguard. Her sister, Maura, is still a prisoner of the Synestra. Both are the daughters of Gilda and Angus. Gilda is the Gray Lady; until Helen she was the only Sentinel female. Old and incredibly powerful, she is so angry on so many levels; Angus is her husband.
Logan, Ronan, Alexander, and Tynan are Sanguinar demons. And healers whose truce with the Theronai provides the Sentinels with healing. They have their own agenda and are involved with a secret Sanguinaran venture called Project Lullaby.
Meghan Clark's father is dying of cancer, and Alexander promises to save him in return for her taking a trip. I think this begins to explain Project Lullaby.
Slade, Vance, and Carmen are Gerai, blooded humans who have vowed to help the Sentinels in any way. Grace is a Gerai working in the fortress and in love with the paralyzed and suicidal Torr.
The Defenders of Humanity are...
...a militia group who believe the Sentinels are evil. A viewpoint promoted by their leader Hector Morrow. Jake Morrow is Hector's son.
Synestryn is...
...a group name for the monsters, demons, and other beasties that go bump in the night. Their purpose in life is to conquer the world "using humans as food while they battle their way into ... Athanasia".
I think Connal is a Sanguinar who has been turned, altered, by Zillah, a Synestryn with a plan to retake the Sibyl.
Athanasia is...
...another world whose tyrant king, Solarc, has shut the gate between his world and ours, forbidding his sons from visiting Earth.
Lucien is a son of the Solarc and father to Helen, Lexi, and Jackie. His brother Eron is the father of Andra and Nika.
The Cover and Title
The cover is the deepest reds to the brightest in almost winglike swaths as Zach prepares to fight, his sword clenched in a two-handed grip and raised up and across his bare torso. Well, bare except for the bare tree of life tattoo that indicates too well how close he is to death.
The title is true about almost all the Sentinels. The ones without bondmates. They are all Running Scared.
December 28, 2021
Tercer libro de "Las Guerras de los Centinelas". La trama principal del libro trata sobre la pareja de Lexi y Zach. Tuvieron su primer encuentro en el primer libro de la saga, pero en este libro se desarrolla su historia.
Lexi es una chica que ha vivido su vida huyendo de los Synestrin y los Centinelas, que para ella son malos. Ahora pretende ayudar a los "Defensores de la humanidad" a destruir a los Centinelas.
Zach es un centinela que lleva un tiempo buscando a Lexi desesperadamente, y ella se escapa siempre antes de que consiga alcanzarla.
Para mà este libro se deja leer fácilmente y es entretenido. La trama principal es lo que sucede entre la pareja de Lexi y Zach, pero también hay un poco entremezclado de lo que parece que serán nuevas parejas, además de aparecer las parejas anteriores en parte de la trama de la historia. La escritora va saltando narrando la historia desde el punto de vista de cada personaje, saltando entre los dos personajes principales, Lexi y Zach, y además intercalando historias de otros personajes, que se supone que serán nuevas parejas. Eso hace que no te aburras leyendo.
Lexi es una chica que ha vivido su vida huyendo de los Synestrin y los Centinelas, que para ella son malos. Ahora pretende ayudar a los "Defensores de la humanidad" a destruir a los Centinelas.
Zach es un centinela que lleva un tiempo buscando a Lexi desesperadamente, y ella se escapa siempre antes de que consiga alcanzarla.
Para mà este libro se deja leer fácilmente y es entretenido. La trama principal es lo que sucede entre la pareja de Lexi y Zach, pero también hay un poco entremezclado de lo que parece que serán nuevas parejas, además de aparecer las parejas anteriores en parte de la trama de la historia. La escritora va saltando narrando la historia desde el punto de vista de cada personaje, saltando entre los dos personajes principales, Lexi y Zach, y además intercalando historias de otros personajes, que se supone que serán nuevas parejas. Eso hace que no te aburras leyendo.
March 5, 2020
There are three ongoing relationships in this story.
The main one for this is Zack & Lexi. Zack finally catches up to Lexi, but only because she lets him for her own reasons.
Second is Madoc & Nika. She’s still unconscious but in a brief moment of wakefulness she asks for Madoc, so he’s stuck babysitting her.
Then there’s Torr & Grace. Torr is paralyzed but wants to die. So he’s fighting his attraction to Grace his caregiver.
This makes for a very complicated storyline when you add in the fight with the Synestryn, some newcomers. situations with everybody else.
Fave scenes: Zach’s pain attack, truck vs mega-monsters, Zack’s surprise for Lexi and discovering Lexi’s gift.
The main one for this is Zack & Lexi. Zack finally catches up to Lexi, but only because she lets him for her own reasons.
Second is Madoc & Nika. She’s still unconscious but in a brief moment of wakefulness she asks for Madoc, so he’s stuck babysitting her.
Then there’s Torr & Grace. Torr is paralyzed but wants to die. So he’s fighting his attraction to Grace his caregiver.
This makes for a very complicated storyline when you add in the fight with the Synestryn, some newcomers. situations with everybody else.
Fave scenes: Zach’s pain attack, truck vs mega-monsters, Zack’s surprise for Lexi and discovering Lexi’s gift.
June 16, 2023
4.25/5
This book was set up in the first book in the series. A few things feel a bit forced at the beginning. But once we have the male and female lead together I thought the main story was very well done. The primary antagonists took a back seat for a different group with a believable leader. The climax was foreshadowed and it fit for me. This does not mean everything was predictable. There were still some twists that were harder to see.
This book was set up in the first book in the series. A few things feel a bit forced at the beginning. But once we have the male and female lead together I thought the main story was very well done. The primary antagonists took a back seat for a different group with a believable leader. The climax was foreshadowed and it fit for me. This does not mean everything was predictable. There were still some twists that were harder to see.
April 19, 2020
I liked the book and the story. I loved Zach. I REALLY didn't like Lexi after the first few chapters. I liked her in previous books, but this one... stubbornly holding onto the brainwashing thing passed ALL logical reasons. It was annoying and borderline stupid.
That said, the one I'm REALLY looking forward to is Nika's book! It'll be interesting!
That said, the one I'm REALLY looking forward to is Nika's book! It'll be interesting!
September 20, 2021
I really love the characters in these books. They are not perfect, they all make mistakes, but the goodness in their hearts and their love for one another makes them lovable. There was a little excitement in this book, but most of it was bringing out more of the backstory. It was nice to learn more about this world.
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